How to book: up to two months in advance; 00 1 707 944 2380, www.frenchlaundry.com.

Where to stay: Vintage Inn (00 1 707 944 1112, www.vintageinn.com) is an 80-room romantic classic, with hot tubs and fireplaces in some rooms. Doubles start at £125.

Getting there: San Francisco is 70 minutes’ drive from Yountville. British Airways (0870 850 9850, www.ba.com) and Virgin Atlantic (0870 574 7747, www.virgin-atlantic.com) fly direct; from £449. A week’s car hire starts at £112 with Holiday Autos (0870 400 4447, www.holidayautos.co.uk).

TETSUYA’S, Sydney, Australia

“France walks down the aisle with Japan,” as one critic put it. Some believe there is the occasional marital spat, but Tetsuya Wakuda’s restaurant, overlooking a zen garden at the southern end of Kent Street, is a Sydney institution. He dishes up ravioli of lobster with scallop and tarragon mousse, confit of ocean trout served with its roe, and double-cooked deboned spatchcock with braised daikon and bread sauce. Prices are not astronomical: starters are £3-£10, mains £8-£15, with a 10-course tasting menu for £70.

How to book: up to six weeks in advance; 00 61 2 9267 2900, www.tetsuyas.com.

Where to stay: at the other end of the same street, near The Rocks, The Observatory (from the UK, 020 8604 2242; www.observatoryhotel.com.au) is one of the best hotels in town. Doubles start at £150.

Getting there: British Airways (0870 850 9850, www.ba.com), Qantas (0845 774 7767, www.qantas.com.au) and Virgin Atlantic (0870 574 7747, www.virgin-atlantic.com) fly direct to Sydney; from £579 on BA.

GORDON RAMSAY, London SW3

Ramsay might be spreading himself as thin as foie gras on toast, but his flagship still delivers the goods. The star turn is the Menu Prestige (seven courses for £90), but the £40, three-course set lunch — consommé of lobster with tiger prawn and scallop tortellini; roasted breast of black-leg chicken; caramelised apple with rum ganache and vanilla anglaise — is the real bargain.

How to book: up to one month in advance; 020 7352 4441.

Where to stay: save up for a classier bottle of wine by staying at Morgan House (020 7730 2384, www.morganhouse.co.uk), a well-run B&B down the road in Pimlico. Doubles start at £66, including breakfast.

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